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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResume - Vanessa I. AcostaVANESSA I. ACOSTA, ESQ. 444 SW 2nd Ave Miami, Florida 33131 305-416-1176 vacosta miami og_v.eo Admitted to practice law in Florida, January 2002 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE City of Miami, Miami, Florida Office of the City Manager, Senior Assistant to the City Manager October 2013 to Present Office of the City Manager, Special Projects Manager, October 2012 to October 2013 Assistant Director of Building and Zoning, November 2010 to October 2012 • Oversee Committee charged with review of the City Charter in order to implement necessary changes • Coordinate with Departments the review of the City Code of Ordinances in order to make changes. • Coordinated with City departments on interdepartmental matters including large scale development concerns, constituent complaints, and permitting issues. • Counseled administration in negotiating with the Federal Highway Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation with regards to outdoor advertising issues • Spearheaded City' s Billboard and Mural programs. • Drafted legislative ordinances and resolutions for Commission approval. • Managed human resources matters for a municipal department consisting of over fifty employees. • Assisted with the preparation of the departmental and municipal budget. • Aided in the implementation of a new software system to streamline building permit process. • Coordinated with various municipalities, Miami -Dade County and FPL regarding the placement of the new FPL corridor along US-1. • Reviewed and collected outstanding City liens related to Code Enforcement and Unsafe Structure violations. • Participated in recruitment and hiring of department Directors. • Coordinated large scale special events at City facilities. • Prepared procurement documents for multiple departments and administered their execution. • Involved in intergovernmental negotiations with Miami -Dade County on a variety of interlocal governance issues. • Drafted and administered Settlement Agreements and Amendments with billboard companies as proscribed by State and municipal law. • Served as the administration' s chief expediter and trouble shooter for projects of public importance. Vanessa I. Acosta, P.A., Miami, Florida Development Consultant, March 2004 to November 2010 • Represented developers, businesses and property owners in development matters before the City of Miami and Miami -Dade County. • Researched the feasibility of prospective development, expedited permit issues and coordinated with staff to resolve issues arising from new development and redevelopment of land. • Represented clients seeking municipal, state, and federal disadvantaged and minority status certification. • Reviewed the Miami 21 Zoning Code for the City of Miami Mayor' s Office and prepared report regarding industry concerns and internal inconsistencies. • Fundraised and strategized on various political campaigns. • Engaged in pro bono fundraising, community engagement andpublic relation efforts for various 501(c) (3) entities. Cardinal Development, Miami, Florida Project Manager. January 2005 to November 2010 • Identified potential projects, conducted land use and zoning due diligence, consulted with attorneys, architects and engineers, assisted in the preparation of pro-formas, and secured MUSP and Class I/II Permits. • Spearheaded governmental relations and business development opportunities with FPL, WASD, DERM, FAA, Miami -Dade County and municipalities. • Reviewed and negotiated contracts with consultants, contractors, vendors, and buyers. • Selected and acquired insurance products for the various project sites. • Reviewed pricing exercises provided by the general contractor, including pay applications and change orders. • Reviewed condominium documents, surveys and budgets. Administered developer turnover to the associations and punch lists for the common areas and individual units, as well as maintained relationships with associations and property management companies. • Assisted in all aspects of the entitlement, development, construction, sale and delivery of a $45 million project consisting of two mid -rise residential condominiums totaling 350,000 square feet; entitlement and development of a 350,000 square foot commercial project including both office and retail space; and entitlement and development of a $250 million dollar mixed used project that included 600 residential units, 50,000 square feet of retail space, 50,000 square feet of office space and 1,200 parking spaces. Adorno & Yoss, P.A., Miami, Florida Associate, Real Estate, Land Use and Governmental Affairs Department, September 2002 to March 2004 Law Clerk and Law Firm of the Americas Coordinator, July 2001 to June 2002 • Represented clients in planning and zoning quasi-judicial and legislative matters, residential and commercial real estate transactions, governmental affairs at the local and state level, and title claims. • Prepared RFP and RFQ responses and other proposals. • Represented and coordinated events and responses to government action affecting the Miami -Dade County Board of Realtors at a localand state level. • Served as firm coordinator for the Law Firm of the Americas initiative; researched and coordinated a network of law firms throughout the Americas to develop and implement policies for the overall organization, identified potential clients as well as developed RFP responses and other proposals. Planned conferences, assisted with public relations and marketing, finances, member communication, and reports to the Managing Partner of LFA and its Chair. Greenberg Traurig, Miami, Florida Paralegal Clerk, August 2000 to June 2001 • Researched, translated and prepared trial notebooks, closing binders, closing memoranda, and other documents pertaining to the acquisition of radio stations, communication frequencies and land. Taylor Development, Miami, Florida Assistant, October 1997 to April 2000 • Assisted in expediting plans, as well as, project conceptualization and development for commercial projects in Miami -Dade and Broward counties. Miami -Dade County State Attorney's Office, Samantha Ruiz -Cohen, Miami, Florida Intern, June 1995 to August 1995 Ll Assisted in hearing preparations, coordination of witnesses, and file management. EDUCATION University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida Juris Doctor, May 2002 Florida International University, Miami, Florida Bachelor of Arts, August 1999 PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Professional: Member, Florida Bar Member, American Bar Association Civic: Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart Lawyers Association, 2012-Present National Association of Women Law Judges Conference, November 2012 Member, City of Miami Waterfront Advisory Board, 1999-2001 Member, City of Miami Orange Bowl Committee, 2001-2009 Academic: Summer Abroad at University College of London, 2001? University of Miami Hispanic Law Student Association Miami Law Women American Bar Association, Student Member Computer Skills: Westlaw, LEXIS, Word, WordPerfect, PowerPoint, Access, CMS and Excel Language Skills: Fluent in Spanish